Packing element



Dec. 22, 1953 E. B. KlNcAlD 2,663,417

PACKING ELEMENT Filed Aug. 24, 1950 5 Sheets-Sheet l Ue RO 7'" 3 sheets-sheet 2 E. B. KINCAID PACKING ELEMENT Dec. 22, 1953 Filed Aug. 24, 1950 Dec. 22, E. B AK|NCA|D.

PACKING ELENENT Filed Aug. 24, 1950 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 4I g2 4g f5 i? AVAVAVAVA'AVAV. p LvAvAVAUAl-Yfnvgvlv una ,AVAVAVAVA'AVA :All v v. v ,A vA A Patented Dec. 22, 1953 UNITED STATE ENT OFFICE PACKING ELEMENT Application August 24, 1950, Serial No. 181,283

(Cl.Y 20G-62) 41 Claims.

The present invention relates to a packing element of paperboard or like material, and more particularly to a packing element especially well adapted to protect fragile articles o relatively thin, flat conformation, such as glass sheets, mirrors, framed pictures, and the like, from breakage or other damage in shipment.

Stated briefiy, the invention is embodied in a strip of paperboard divided into a plurality of pairs of panels, the panels of each pair being spaced apart longitudinally of the strip. A pair of laterally spaced straps connects the panels of each pair, and a pair of flaps each connected to one of the panels lies between the straps. A tongue substantially aligned with the naps is cut from one of the panels, with its base adjacent the panel edge connected to the straps and its free end remote therefrom in its initially formed condition. At its free end, the tongue has a pair of lateral projections. The straps are bent to extend out of the planes of the panels, which are disposed closer to each other than the length of the unbent straps, the flaps'overlapping each other. The tongue is folded about its base to extend between the straps and over the flaps, with its free end overlying the other panel and the lateral projections engaging the straps at the connections between that panel and the straps. The tongue engages the strap edges in frictionally locking relation, and this with the engagement of the projections on the straps holds the panels and straps in secured relation. A base member may be provided underlying and secured to the panels and bridging the space therebetween. Sheet-like articles, as for example sheets of glass, may be disposed with marginal portions between the straps and their edges engaging the tongue surface. The flaps and tongue space and cushion the sheet edges from the wall of a shipping case against which the panels lie, and the straps space and cushion the outer faces of the sheets from other walls of the case. Thus shocks in handling or shipment are absorbed or minimised by the packing element, and the sheets are held out of contact with the case even upon deflection of the case walls by blows or pressure. The several pairs of panels with their connecting straps are hinged for angular disposition relative to each other, so that the packing elenient may extend about a corner of the sheets, or f may be disposed on or along an edge thereof. The packing element may be formed of suiiicient length to extend completely about the sheet edges, or more than one element may be used to accomplish the encirclenient, and will conform 2 closely to the peripheral contour of the sheets,

whether such contour is straight or curved. The packing element is easily set up from a simple blank.

It is one object of the invention to provide a packing element for spacing packed articles such as glass sheets from the walls of a packing or shipping case. Another object is the provision of a packing element for iat articles such as glass sheets which cushions the edges and also the faces of the articles from the walls of the shipping case. A further object is the provision of a packing element for iiat articles which is adapted to serve either about a corner or along an edge thereof. Still another object is the provision of a packing element which may be applied about the entire periphery of packed articles such as ilat sheets. It is also an object of the invention to provide a packing element of paperboard or the like adapted to engage about the edges of articles such as iiat sheets in close contour-following relation. An additional object is the provision of a packing element of paperboard or the like particularly adapted for use on fiat sheets which is readily formed from a simple blank and maintains itself in set-up condition. Still another object is the provision of a blank of paperboard or the like for such a packing element which is simple to form and to set up.

Other and further objects, advantages, and features of the invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art from the following description, taken with the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a perspective View of one form of the packing element of this invention arranged as a corner packing;

Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the packing element of Fig. 1 arranged as an edge packing, with a portion broken away for greater clearness;

Fig. 3 is a plan of a blank for the packing element of Figs. l and 2;

Fig. 4 is a perspective view of another form of the packing element of the invention, with a portion broken away;

Fig. 5 is a side elevational view of the element of Fig. 4;

Fig. 6 is a plan of a blank for the packing element of Fig. Il;

Fig. '7 is a sectional view taken along line 'l-l' of Fig. 5, but showing the element as applied to a plurality of sheets and disposed in a case;

Fig. 8 is a fragmentary perspective view o1 still another form of the packing element;

Fig. 9 is a fragmentary enlarged side elevation of the packing element of Fig. 8, as applied about the edge ci a sheet; and

Fig. lo is a shortened plan View of a blank for the packing element or" Fig. 8, the mid portion being broken away.

Referring iirst to Figs. l to 3 of the drawings, there is shown a blank IQ from which the packing element i! 'comprising one l'embodirnent of the invention is formed. The blank lil cornprises a plurality of serially connected panels each of which extends entirely across the blank, and is formed in this instance oi double face corrugated paperboard. In the present case, the blank I B is divided into two symmetrical vparts or sections by a central transverse hinge vline t2., i

on each side of which is a panel I3. To each of the panels i 3 is connecteda panel le, .and connected to each of the panels It is a .terminal panel I5. Each panel is is cut by a pair of parallel slits I5 extending longitudinally of the blank from end to end of 'the panel and a transverse slit i? extending trom one slit 95E to the other. A strap i3 connecting the panels I3 'and I5 is defined between each slit IS and the adjacent edge or the blank, and a pair or flaps I9 each extending from and integral with one of the panels i3 and i5 is formed between the slits IS by the slit il. A transverse fold line 2Q is .provided at the center of each strap it, and a fold line "2i is provided at each end of each oi the straps. The fold lines 2l deiine the connections between the straps and the panels yi3 and I5, and may be parts or extensions of fold lines 22 which may be provided to denne the ends of the panels I4 or the connections between the flaps it and the respective panels I3 and Iii. n From each of the .terminal panels I5 is formed a 'tongue 23 which is connected at its base to the remainder .of the panel by 'a hinge Iine '213, in this its free end, which is at the yend of vthe blank, 'the l tongue is formed with lateral projections 25, and

may have similar projections Etat its base.

The packing element II is formed from the Y blank i t by folding the straps it out ofthe plane of the lblank about the `fold lines 2! and 2i, disposing the panels I3 and I5 vcloser .to each other than the length of the 'unbent straps but still spaced apart, and with the flaps It yoverlapping each other. Each tongue 23 is bent on itshinge line 2d to entend between the bent straps, overlying the flaps le with its longitudinal edges Yfrictionally engaged with the .inner or facing edges ofthe straps and its free end overlying .the panel It. The lateral projections 25 engage the straps I S adjacent 4their connections to the panel I3., .but ordinarily such engagement is at V,points spaced somewhat from the panel i 3, due to the thickness of the naps underlying the tongue. The projecticns 26, if provided, oyerlie the portion of the panel l5 between the hinge line 2d and .the Iadjacentfold line 22, and-are so proportioned as not to interfere with this disposition of Ithe tongue.

Vit will be seen that the distance between the panels l 3 and 25,'and hence the angular disposition ci the straps it andthe distance they extend from the panels, for any given length oi the straps, are determined by the length of the tongue, 'or more precisely, by the distance from the hinge line 2d to the lateral projections 25.

The panels I3 and I5 ordinarily are disposed in substantially a common plane, except as they may be jogged or deflected relative to each other by reason of the overlapping of the naps and tongue, as shown, but if desired they :nay be disposed in angular relation to each other, or may be curved.

A plurality of sheets, such .as glass sheets, for example, arranged as a pack in race to Yface relation with protective paper or the like therebetween if desired, is disposed in the packing ele- -mentwith the sheet edges abutting against the tongues 23 and the marginal portions engaged between the lstraps Is. In Fig. 2, the packing 4alternent Ii is shown as arranged for disposition along kastzaig'ht edge of a sheet pack, with both `par-ts 4or sections extending in alignment with each other, while in Fig. l .the packing element Ais shown as bent on the hinge line I2 so as to extend about a rectangular corner of the sheets, .onesection .engaging on one of the corner edges `and the other section von the other edge. Of course, lthe sections may be disposed on vother than right-angled corners. lThe packing element I! may thus be used either as an edge packing or as a corner pad. A number of the packing, elements are disposed about the periphery of the sheet pack in accordance with proper packing requirements, and the sheet pack and packing elements enclosed in a case, carton, crate, or the like, designated by C in the drawings, the length and width of which are somewhat greater than the corresponding dimensions of the sheets to allow for the packing elements, and the interior breadth of which corresponds to the width yof .the Ypacking elements, `so that play or movement of 'the contents in the case C vis substantially eliminated. `.Thus the rpack of sheets is cradled by the packing elements, being .spaced and cushioned from .the case walls parallel to the sheet faces vby the straps i8, and rfrom the walls parallel to the sheet edges by the panels I3 and l 5, aps It, and `tongues .23. Shocks o1' blows to which the case may be subjected are largely, if not entirely, absorbed bythe packing elements, and the spacing of the outer sheet faces from the paralleling case walls protects the sheets against a certain amount of deflection of 'such walls, as under a blow.

Although the packing element l! is disclosed as applied to a plurality of glass sheets Yor 'the like, it will be obvious .that it may be used with only a single sheet or fiat article, such as a .framed picture, the spacing between the straps i8 vbeing determined by the edge thickness of the article or articles. Similarly, more than two straps may be provided to hold separate sheets or groups of sheets in spaced relation to each other. The 'aps I9 may be of unequal lengths, and 'one or both may be omitted if desired. it will be vclear that if desired the packing element may consist of only one section instead of .two as shown, and as hereinafter `explained may coinprise more than vtwo sections.

Figs. -4 to 7 there is .illustrated another keinbodiment of the invention. The blank .is and packing .element Si of this forni are in most respects the same as those of Figs. l to 3, differing in .the provision of means alording a posi-tive .securing lock between the tongue and straps. Those ,parts of the blank and packing element which are substantially identical to the correspond-ing parts of the Erst-disclosed form are designated by the saine reference numerals. The Ablank 3d and packing element 34 formed there- Ifrom'comprise panels I3, I4, and I5, a tongue 123 being formed from the panel le and straps I8 from the panel ill as in the first embodiment described. Instead of the pair of iiaps is, howover, two .da-ps 32 and 35i are formed from each panel extending respectively from the panels i3 and E 5, by transverse slit 3i extending from one slit i5 to the other. The transverse slit 35 in the blank is located closer to panel is than panel i5, so that the flap 32 is longer than the i'lap 33. A notch 35 is formed in the inner edge of each of the straps i6 by a suitable cut. The notches are located adjacent the panel i3, but spaced from the connections thereto of the straps by approximately the thickness of the material of the blank. The material separated from the strap-s to form the notches may be removed, but it is simpler to leave it attached to the flap 33, as shown. On the longitudinal edges oi the tongue Z3, adjacent the projections 255, lugs 36 are provided extending laterallyr from the tongue a distance corresponding to the depth of the notches 35.

The packing element 3l is formed by folding the blank Si? in the same manner as the blank i to set up the element il, but when the tongue 23 disposed between the straps i8, the lugs 3% are engaged the notches 35. The tongue is thus positively locked in its securing position, and its irictional engagement with the strap edges becomes secondary and need not be relied upon to secure the panels and straps in the desired relation. The longer iap 32 is preferably disposed between the shorter flap 33 and the tongue 23, with substantially its entire extent in surface contact with the tongue, thus providing a iirrner cushioning pad. It is for this reason that the notches 35 are spaced from the panel i3. lf de sired, however, the shorter flap may extend be tween the tongue and longer flap. In such case, the notches 35 may, but need not, be located adjacent the connections of the straps i8 to the panel i3. The packing element 3i is employed in the same way as the packing element i l, as will be evident from Fig. 7, and may similarly be modified for specific applications or to suit the desires or" the maker or user.

A third form of the packing element of this invention disclosed in Figs. 8 to l0, in which a blank il is shown from which a packing element il is formed. The blank has a plurality of sections each comprising a panel 62 and a panel e3 connected thereto along a fold line fifi. Another panel ilE is connected to the opposite edge of panel Q3 a fold line riti, and so on to the other end of the blank, where a terminal panel il@ instead of a panel t2 is connected to a panel d3, although of course a panel ft2 might be ernployed at such terminal panel. Each panel i3 is cut by parallel slits tl extending longitudinally of the blank between the fold lines it and i5 and by a central transverse slit le between the slits fl?, to provide straps #lil and flaps 5i! similar to the straps and flaps of the previously described forms. Each strap i9 has a central transverse fold line di parallel to the fold lines fill and 125, which denne the strap connections to the two panels i2 between which the straps extend. A tongue t?. is formed from each panel d2, having a hinge line at its base parallel to the fold line fill, and lon gitudinal edges extending from the hinge line in a direction opposite from the fold line @il to the free end of the tongue, which lies remote troni the straps 4.19. Lateral projections Eli are formed at the free end of the tongue. At its hinge line 53, the tongue 52 is of substantially the same width as the flaps 5t, with the end points of the hinge line substantially in alignment with the slits il, but the longitudinal tongue edges nare from its base toward its free end so that at least a portion of the tongue adjacent its free end is wider than the naps 5E), or in other words than the space between the straps 4Q.

The packing element 4I is formed from the blank it in substantially the saine way that the packing elements i i and 3l are set up from their blanks, each pair of straps tl being folded out of the plane of the blank by means of the fold lines fifi, 45, and 5i, with the panels di. which they connect disposed closer to each other than in the blank, and the flaps 5G in overlapped relation. Each tongue 52 is swung out from its panel i2 into tight frictional engagement with the inner or facing edges of the bent straps its, overlying the flaps 5i?, with the projections 5Fl engaging the straps adjacent fold line te. The wedged engagement of the tongue between the straps due to its flared construction secures the straps :i9 and panels t2 connected thereby in the desired relation, and the lateral projections 5t are of secondary importance and may even be dispensed with if no longitudinal tension is to be applied to the packing element.

The packing element lil may include a base member 55 underlying and secured to the panels #l2 by any suitable means, as adhesive, and bridging the space therebetween. If of sulcient strength, this base member may be relied upon to hold the panels and straps in the desired relation, and the tongues 52 need not be employed except as providing a thickness of cushioning material additional to the flaps The base member 55 may extend beyond an end, or both ends, of the packing element and be used to secure the element encircling a sheet of glass or the like by overlapping the meeting ends of the element, or to secure a plurality of the packing elements in end-to-end relation for obtaining a desired length. In Fig. 9, a packing element 4! is shown applied about an edge of a sheet of glass, and it will be apparent that either a single packing element, or a plurality of packing elements Si connected by overlapping of the base rneznbers 55, may be used to encircle the sheet. ijf the material is sufficiently flexible, the element is siinply bent about the sheet corners, as shown, while if more rigid material is used, the panels i2 may be provided with told lines like the line 52 of element il, or the element li may be bent on the .fold line lill or 55. For a packing element of relatively light material, such as shown, which is sucient for the protection of a single sheet of glass or the like, the base member 55 may be a strip of gumrned paper tape, which is con venie t to handle and apply. It should 'be clear that the base member may be secured on the packing element, after it is set up from the blank, either before or after the 'pa-cking element is applied to the article or articles it is to protect. It will also appear from Fig. 9 that the packing element of this inventionwill conform closely to the sheet edges even when they are curved, particularly when a base rnernber is employed in the manner set forth to bind the packing element tightly against the article edge. Of course, the base member may be of any desired thickness and rigidity, and it may be in sections corresponding to the sections of the Packing element proper, either separated or hingedly connected.

While the packing element :il is disclosed as consisting of several sections, it may, like the strip severed therefrom at their inner edges and respectively attached to the inner edges of said panels along transverse fold lines, said straps being spaced apart transversely of said strip and folded upward providing substantially inverted V-shaped elements spaced apart transversely of said strip and having downwardly diverging arms, a rst ap integral with one of said panels extending therefrom substantially in the plane thereof and underlying the area between said V-shaped elements, a second flap integral with the other of said panels extending therefrom in underlying relation to the area between said V-shaped elements and seating on the upper face of said rst flap, and a tongue member separate from said arms attached at one end to one of said panels along a transverse fold line, said tongue member having a length materially greater than twice the thickness of said strip and being folded over between said V-shaped elements, the arms 10 of said ii-shaped elements and said tongue having cooperating means effective for restraining said arms against movement away from each other, said tongue seating on the upper face of said second flap providing therewith and with said rst nap a cushion comprising three thicknesses of the paperboard of said strip.

ELBERT B. KINCAID.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,222,769 Thayer Apr. 17, 1917 1,913,655 Benoit June 13, 1933 2,331,038 Meller Oct. 5, 1943 2,431,535 Bergstrom Nov. 25, 1947 2,507,929 Pennebaker May 16, 1950 2,511,569 Davis et al June 13, 1950 2,603,349 Van Antwerpen July 15, 1952 

